1
as in hopeless
not capable of being cured or reformed
an irretrievable drug addict who had wasted a once-promising life
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irreparable
not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone
this is just an irretrievable mess, so let's start all over again
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irretrievable
Choi seems to be exploring, if subtly, the limitless number of paths a person can take, the manifold consequences of choices that seem inconsequential, the ways interpersonal disputes can widen into irretrievable losses, the awkward intersections of agency and fate: If only this, if not for that.
—
Book Marks
june 5, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
There is a genuinely irretrievable, ephemeral, low-res version of the movie.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 17 May 2025
Lawmakers warn that evidence critical to future war crimes investigations may be irretrievable.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
And there was data that was lost, that was irretrievable.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irretrievable
Book Marks
june 5, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
There is a genuinely irretrievable, ephemeral, low-res version of the movie.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 17 May 2025
Lawmakers warn that evidence critical to future war crimes investigations may be irretrievable.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
And there was data that was lost, that was irretrievable.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irretrievable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irretrievable
Adjective
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But the situation is not hopeless.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
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Dealing with the horrors of the situation in Gaza within the sterile environment of a call center, its workers are feeling increasingly hopeless, caught in the political crossfire of an escalating situation.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The failure of Democratic leaders in Illinois to communicate directly with Trump could cause irreparable harm to our state.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Aug. 2025
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This ultimately led to vandalism of the equipment and irreparable damage to the playing surface.—
Laurie Winkless,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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However, the statute doesn’t address incurable violations, such as, for example, unsafe driving, raucous disturbances, or misuse of common facilities.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
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That incurable illnesses exist.—
Polly Atkin
August 26,
Literary Hub,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Mismanagement or loss of these keys can result in irreversible asset loss.—
Jason Lau,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Tell Me Lies Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco's (Jackson White) relationship begins much the same as any other college romance, but their seemingly mundane choices lead to irreversible consequences.—
James Mercadante,
People.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Broadly speaking, this is probably not irrecoverable damage to the ecosystem.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
19 July 2025
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Aviation experts have said a preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) raised questions over whether one of the pilots of Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787's engines seconds after takeoff, leading to an irrecoverable situation.—
Dan Catchpole,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Instead, in the U.S., projects are litigated and delayed, often to make the project economics untenable and the investment unrecoverable.—
Anna Broughel,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Minutes later, the list reached an unrecoverable 45 degrees; the ship slowly and silently sank, its starboard side resting on the river bottom.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, the court found that after considering several factors, the government failed to prove that Abrego Garcia poses an irremediable danger to the community.—
Greg Wehner , Bill Mears,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2025
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Despite the incident, The Animal Haven reaffirmed its no-kill shelter status, and clarified that euthanasia in cases of irremediable canine aggression is in line with the Best Friends Animal Society's definition of no-kill.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Nick’s parents are divorced, and the panic attacks begin after Nick, having become incorrigible in adolescence, is ordered by his mom to go live with his dad in a subdivision called Chariot Courts, in Libertyville, Illinois, an exurb of Chicago.—
Emily Witt,
New Yorker,
13 Aug. 2025
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Who was this alien observer, whose gaze made me into a (slightly) better person, whose gaze (slightly) reduced my incorrigible self-centeredness?—
Michael W. Clune,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irretrievable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irretrievable. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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